Welcome Eli, Coughlin to the Hall

Just about everyone, this guy included, has had their numerous doubts about the actual legitimacy of Eli Manning as an NFL quarterback over the course of his career.

He's lived in the shadow of his older brother, fellow Super Bowl champ and arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, and his Super Bowl title in the 2007 season was written off as a streak of good luck and fortune.

But what Eli Manning has done this season, and especially this postseason, has been nothing short of remarkable. With the New York Giants 21-17 win over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday, go ahead and punch the tickets to the Hall of Fame for Manning and his head coach, Tom Coughlin.

Manning led the Giants on yet another last-minute comeback on Sunday night, just as he did against the Cowboys in Arlington to save the Giants season, and just as he did so many other times this season. In winning his second Super Bowl title, the younger Manning might even be making a case against his older brother as far as the pecking order of NFL quarterbacks goes. And don't forget, Manning's receivers are arguably the youngest, most promising group in the NFL.

Then there's Coughlin, the guy who seems to be on the coaching hot seat every two years or so. The guy whose head was on the chopping block this past offseason. You know, the guy that has now beaten who many consider to be the greatest head coach in NFL history in the Super Bowl, twice.

The Giants run through this postseason should be forever remembered as the greatest postseason run in NFL history, which is clearly a testamant to Coughlin. The Giants have been in must-win situations for the past six weeks, and have won them all, and all against teams that finished the regular season at .500 or better. That's a qualifier to make room for the Cowboys, but look at the teams the Giants beat in the postseason. The Atlanta Falcons, the No. 1 overall seed in the NFL Green Bay Packers, the No. 2 seed in the NFC San Francisco 49ers and then Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

So go ahead and admit it, Cowboys fans. It's hard to do, trust me, I know. But Eli Manning is now one of the greats, as is Tom Coughlin. There's no arguing against it.

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